Budget Talks Marked by Slow Pace

By

Carol E. Lee And

Janet Hook

Updated Nov. 20, 2012 8:11 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—Efforts to avoid a year-end fiscal crisis are inching forward, with senior White House and House Republican aides beginning to craft an agenda for President Barack Obama and congressional leaders to consider when they likely meet next week.

In private meetings, White House and House Republican staff have been reviewing deficit-reduction proposals and discussing what ideas could be applied to either a short-term agreement...